Tuesday, July 18, 2006

AM Re-Broadcasting on FM Translators

The NAB has filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC advocating a change in the FM translator rules to allow FM translators to re-broadcast AM stations.

Specifically, the NAB requests that AM stations be permitted to license and/oruse FM translators to retransmit their AM service as a fill-in service, so long as no portion of the 60 dBu contour of the FM translator exceeds the lesser of either the 2 mV/m daytime contour of the AM station or a circle with its center at the AM transmitter site and a radius of 25 miles.

This petition for rulemaking represents a reversal in the NAB's position on FM translators as it was the NAB for many years that steadfastly sought to limit FM translators to only re-broadcasting full service FM stations, and then only within an FM station's service area contour if there was any connection between the FM translator licensee and the FM station licensee.

By Public Notice released July 25, 2006, the Petition for Rulemaking was assigned RM No. 11338 in the FCC's ECFS, and a time period of 30 days was given for supporting or opposing statements to be filed.